my real and reel universe

Baking Is Easy Just Follow The Recipe

Some people think that baking is difficult. I cannot fathom why they would think so. Cooking is way harder than baking. It is so easy as long as you know how to follow instructions. Everything is given in a recipe. Unlike cooking there is no need to taste it every now and then. Using the oven especially these days need not be complicated. They are now equipped with state of the art digital timer and temperature options. If you do not have them there is no need to fret since they all work the same way except that instead of pressing a button you need to turn the dial. It’s just a matter of manual vs automatic.

Even little kids can now bake properly as long as you supervise them when using gadgets or appliances. Cookies was my first foray into the world of baking. Do not get ambitious and take on complicated recipes until you get the hang of it. With cookies you can never go wrong. Before I tried baking from scratch I first dabbled into the Cookie Mix ready to bake stuff. Try and get some Betty Crocker’s Chocolate Chips and Peanut Butter Cookie Mix. You only need to add eggs, softened butter and water. Mix them well to create a soft dough. Place small round scoops of dough into a baking sheet and they are ready to go into the oven. Do not forget to preheat it as indicated in the instructions at the back of the pouch or box.

If you have been successful using cookie mix then it’s about time to bake them from scratch. First and foremost, get a recipe from a trusted source. It would be better if there is an accompanying video tutorial so you can be guided accordingly. I suggest you go and get a simple Chocolate Chip cookie recipe from The Joy of Baking or if you are having net connection problem here it is:

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe:

1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

3/4 cup (160 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups (295 grams) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (270 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup (100 grams) walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)

Prepare the ingredients and learn from the expert:

Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Experience is the best teacher. It’s always trial and error until you can create them perfectly. If you do not have the specific ingredient find an alternative. Mr. Google can help you immensely. Try and experiment. Have fun!